Given the growing need among companies to better integrate their manufacturing processes with their overall business strategies and operations—and to leverage automation solutions to accomplish this goal—the International Society of Automation (ISA) today announces the formation of an enterprise-focused educational track at ISA Automation Week 2013.
“The Connected Enterprise” track, co-chaired by Rob Gellings and John Clemons of MAVERICK Technologies, will examine how the latest automation applications, standards and techniques are enabling manufacturers to unify disparate systems and processes, and improve company-wide performance, enterprise security and marketplace competitiveness.
“Manufacturers that apply the right mix of business decisions, automation solutions, and skilled people will be able to achieve the vision of the connected enterprise,” says Clemons, MAVERICK’s Director of Manufacturing IT who is a recognized expert in implementing controls, manufacturing execution and enterprise resource planning systems. “This track will provide the big-picture perspective of the challenges, dynamics and opportunities at the enterprise level. Attendees will be able to understand the specific issues that are unique to enterprise operations and integration, and take the proven steps needed to develop a high-performing, connected enterprise.”
“The Connected Enterprise” is one of six educational tracks offered at ISA Automation Week 2013, the premier annual event for automation and control professionals worldwide, to be held 5-7 November 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Leading automation and control experts, authors, innovators and thought leaders across the globe will come together at the conference to demonstrate how to fully leverage the power and potential of automation solutions.
This press release is the third in a series showcasing the event’s six educational tracks. The first press release, distributed early in July, featured the Creating Business Value through Automation educational track. The second press release, distributed in late July, highlighted Asset Lifecycle Management and Optimization/Strategy educational track. In the coming weeks, ISA will profile the remaining three educational tracks:
Clemons says all sessions within the track—including expert tutorials, presentations, and panel discussions—are designed to provide attendees with valuable information they can directly put to use in their jobs.
“There will be no theoretical or academic material here,” he emphasizes. “We’ll be covering the critical issues at the enterprise level—network security, continuous improvement, overall equipment effectiveness, metrics, integration, standards, optimization, workflow, smart phones, networking and other key topics. Attendees will receive practical information they can apply immediately in their work and careers.”
The sessions within the track include:
- What the Business Really Needs from the Connected Enterprise
- Security in the Connected Enterprise
- KPIs: Supporting the Business and Continuous Improvement
- Business Integration: Tools and Techniques for Making Integration Really Work
- Using the ISA95 Standard to Achieve the Connected Enterprise
- Business Integration: Taking it to the Next Level
- Practical Automation: Making Automation Do More & Cost Less
- Design and Implementation of Plant Automation Networks
“Given the number and complexity of different solutions and systems, companies do face obstacles in achieving workable integration,” Clemons concedes. “One mounting challenge is network and system security. Since the connected enterprise is based on linking various systems together—automation systems along with MES, MOM and ERP systems—it’s essential to provide security across a collection of interconnected solutions that are all fundamentally different.”
He emphasizes, however, that achieving enterprise integration goes beyond networking and technological considerations.
Through executive positions at various companies, Gellings has more than 30 years of experience in engineering and thought leadership. Prior to joining MAVERICK, Gellings spent nearly 10 years as president and CEO of EnteGreat, a manufacturing systems consulting firm he co-founded in Birmingham, Ala. He has also served as vice president of Raytheon Engineers, and directed the company’s consulting and systems integration division.
Visit www.isaautomationweek.org to gain more details about ISA Automation Week 2013, including the full technical program, author resources, solutions providers, attendee resources, the complete conference schedule, hotel arrangements and registration.
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